Not a place or circumstance, a relationship.
We seem to be hearing a lot about “Safe Space” in the media lately. It seems to be a big topic on college campuses. One definition I found on the internet reads as follows:
“The term safe space refers to an autonomous space created for individuals who feel marginalized to come together to communicate regarding their experiences with marginalization, most commonly located on university campuses in the western world, but also at workplaces…”
The basic idea is that educational institutions, workplaces, or pretty much any public place where human beings interact in groups should provide for places where people do not experience violence, harassment, or hate speech.
To me, the terms “hate speech” and “marginalized” seem way too subjective, because people’s definitions of what those terms mean can be so different, depending on who you are talking to, and what the circumstances are.
I totally agree from the theoretical perspective that all “hate speech” should not be tolerated. Derogatory/insulting remarks spoken to, or about someone in the workplace, on the campus, etc., are never acceptable. If we are old enough to have gotten beyond middle school, we need to have learned already to speak to others in a respectful and civil manner, even if we do not agree with them. If our communication skills have not evolved beyond that level, something is seriously wrong.
Having said that, I will state that in certain academic and business settings the term is being used, not only in situations where the speech is intentionally harmful to those to whom it is being directed, but also, in situations where the speaker who is being accused of “hate speech” simply holds an opinion or perspective that is in opposition to the hearer, with no malice intent on the part of the speaker. That is where the aspect of subjectivity comes in. This is where the use of the term “hate speech” is being abused and used wrongly.
So, what does it mean to feel marginalized? The thing that comes to my mind is insignificant. You don’t matter. We have probably all felt this way at some point in our lives to some degree. The thing is, if you allow someone else to define you, you always run the risk of feeling marginalized or insignificant. You can’t please everyone, no matter how hard you try. There will always be someone somewhere who finds fault in you or what you say or do. We all want to feel significant. We need for our lives to mean something to others, but we should not become enslaved to that “feeling”. We should ask ourselves the question, “What am I basing my feeling of significance on?” If it is not on your own feeling of self-worth, based on how God defines you, but rather on the subjective assessments of others, it will always be fickle and threatened, because people are fickle, and their opinions are fickle.
The truth of the matter is that if you are looking for safety/security and significance in this world’s system, you will never really find it. What you will find is the illusion of safety/security and significance, and that is even more dangerous. If you think you are safe when you are really in danger, that is worse than being in danger and knowing you are in danger. If you know you are in danger, you can at least try to do something about it. If you feel safe, but that feeling of safety is based on the wrong thing, it is ultimately useless.
Lots of products and services are marketed and sold to make people “feel” safe. Whether they actually provide safety, or simply provide you with the “feeling” of safety, in many cases is debatable. There are billions of dollars being made on this every year. My opinion is that a lot of this stuff, extended warranties, insurance on our phones, appliances, pets, etc., is a big waste of money. A well-made product should not need an extended warranty, or insurance that costs more than the actual product over a period of time, I have also found, in my experience, that when I have had these services, and face a situation where I actually need them, getting the people who have provided the warranties or insurance to take ownership of the issue and pay for it when a claim is filed, is a lot more difficult and time consuming than it should be, and the warranty or insurance proves to be useless. This may not always be the case, but this scenario is far too common.
This same principle applies to feeling safe by thinking or believing certain things. Some people, with a vague idea about right and wrong, or a vague idea about how God rewards good people, and punishes bad people, will feel safe by assuring themselves that they are basically good. They compare themselves to others who are “bad” in their assessment. The problem with the idea, or belief that “good people go to heaven” and “bad people go to hell”, is that the idea, or belief is not based on Biblical truth, consequently, feeling safe in that belief is dangerous, because it is based on a “feeling” of being safe, not actual safety.
The solid Biblical truth is that our eternal destiny is based on what we believe about the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. Jesus Christ died for your sin. You either accept that fact, or you reject it. How good or bad you are does not factor into God’s equation.
Jesus said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Then He says, “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.”
Proverbs says, “The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom.” If you fear God, and you realize He is the only One who has the power to throw you into hell, or redeem you and grant you eternal life with Himself, you better find out what He has to say about this whole matter, and not just trust what you think. You do not set the terms, He does, and there is not a thing you can do to change that.
Jesus also said, “For whoever wants to save their life (feel safe on your own terms) will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me (give up your so called right to decide for yourself what the terms are) and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world (feel safe in your health and material security), yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation (deny the Gospel), the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
I have found my “Safe Space”. It is not based on any specific physical location. It is not based on my circumstances. Sometimes my circumstances are good, sometimes they are bad. It is not based on how financially secure I am. Sometimes the money is good, sometimes the money is tight. It is not based on my health. Sometimes my health is good and I am on top of my game, other times sickness sets in and I don’t want to get out of bed. It is not based on my mood. Sometimes I am a real jokester, sometimes I am a grumpy old man. It is not based on whether people do or do not like me. I do not desire for people to dislike me, but if they do, I really don’t care.
My “Safe Space” is in knowing that no matter what life throws at me, I am safe in the arms of my Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Alpha and the Omega. He is my beginning, and my end. He has made forgiveness of my sins a reality, not something I have to earn. It is a gift that has already been given. Because of that I do not have to “try” real hard to be good. My heart overflows with gratitude, and I desire to be good because of that. I cannot do anything to earn a gift that has already been given. All I can do is be eternally grateful and love the giver with a heart that is overwhelmed with His goodness.
I AM SAFE!!!
Danny's Stump 